Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A touch sensor comprising: substrate having a sensing area and a first, second and third conductive element, wherein each of the first, second and third conductive element is either a sense line or a drive line; the first and the second conductive elements disposed on the substrate such that at least a portion of each of the first and the second conductive elements are within the sensing area, and being arranged such that for any two given points on the first conductive element within the sensing area, the nearest point to each on the second conductive element within the sensing area is a different distance away; the third conductive element being disposed on the substrate such that at least a portion of the third conductive element is within the sensing area, and being arranged such that the third conductive element crosses the second conductive element, and is conductively isolated therefrom; the first and the third conductive elements being arranged such that for any two given points on the first conductive element within the sensing area, the nearest point to each on the third conductive element within the sensing area is a different distance away.
A touch sensor system includes a substrate with a sensing area and three conductive elements, each functioning as either a sense line or a drive line. The first and second conductive elements are positioned such that portions of both lie within the sensing area. The arrangement ensures that for any two points on the first conductive element, the nearest corresponding point on the second conductive element varies in distance, preventing uniform spacing. The third conductive element also lies partially within the sensing area and crosses the second conductive element while remaining electrically isolated. Additionally, the first and third conductive elements are positioned so that for any two points on the first element, the nearest point on the third element also varies in distance. This configuration enables precise touch detection by ensuring non-uniform spacing between conductive elements, which improves accuracy and reduces interference in touch sensing applications. The design is particularly useful in devices requiring high-resolution touch input, such as smartphones, tablets, and interactive displays.
2. The touch sensor claimed in claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a first edge, and the first, second and third conductive elements are electrically accessible on the first edge.
A touch sensor system includes a substrate with multiple conductive elements arranged to detect touch inputs. The substrate has a first edge, and the first, second, and third conductive elements are electrically accessible on this edge. The first conductive element forms a first electrode, while the second and third conductive elements form a second electrode. The first and second electrodes are positioned to create a capacitive sensing region. The second and third conductive elements are electrically connected to form the second electrode, which may include a conductive trace extending from the third conductive element to the second conductive element. The substrate may be flexible, and the conductive elements may be formed using conductive ink or other materials. The touch sensor detects touch inputs by measuring changes in capacitance between the first and second electrodes. This design allows for simplified electrical connections and improved manufacturability, particularly in flexible or curved touch sensor applications. The arrangement ensures that all conductive elements are accessible from a single edge, reducing assembly complexity and enhancing reliability.
3. The touch sensor claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third conductive elements are all electrically accessible within 120 degrees of the sensing area as measured from a centroid of the sensing area of the substrate.
A touch sensor system includes a substrate with a sensing area and multiple conductive elements arranged to detect touch inputs. The system comprises a first conductive element positioned at a first location, a second conductive element positioned at a second location, and a third conductive element positioned at a third location. The conductive elements are configured to generate electrical signals in response to touch interactions within the sensing area. The first, second, and third conductive elements are all electrically accessible within a 120-degree angular range as measured from the centroid of the sensing area. This arrangement ensures efficient signal routing and minimizes wiring complexity while maintaining accurate touch detection. The conductive elements may be interconnected or independently addressable, depending on the specific implementation. The system may further include signal processing circuitry to interpret the electrical signals and determine touch coordinates or gestures. The design optimizes spatial efficiency and signal integrity, particularly in compact or curved touch-sensitive devices.
4. The touch sensor claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third conductive elements are all electrically accessible within 45 degrees of the sensing area as measured from a centroid of the sensing area of the substrate.
A touch sensor system includes a substrate with a sensing area and multiple conductive elements for detecting touch inputs. The conductive elements are arranged to form a sensing grid that detects changes in capacitance or other electrical properties when a user interacts with the sensing area. The system may include a first conductive element for transmitting signals, a second conductive element for receiving signals, and a third conductive element for grounding or shielding. These conductive elements are positioned such that all are electrically accessible within a 45-degree angular range from the centroid of the sensing area. This configuration ensures efficient signal routing and minimizes interference, improving touch detection accuracy and reliability. The conductive elements may be interconnected to form a network that enhances sensitivity and reduces noise. The design allows for compact integration into devices while maintaining high performance. The system may also include additional conductive elements or layers for enhanced functionality, such as multi-touch detection or improved signal shielding. The arrangement ensures that all critical conductive elements are within a close proximity to the sensing area, optimizing electrical connectivity and reducing signal loss.
5. The touch sensor claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first conductive element is a drive line, and the second and third conductive elements are sense lines.
A touch sensor system detects touch inputs by using conductive elements arranged in a grid. The system includes a first conductive element functioning as a drive line, which transmits electrical signals, and second and third conductive elements functioning as sense lines, which detect changes in capacitance caused by touch interactions. The drive line and sense lines are positioned in a layered or overlapping configuration to form a sensing matrix. When a touch occurs, the capacitance between the drive line and the sense lines changes, allowing the system to determine the touch location. The sensor may include additional conductive elements to improve sensitivity or reduce interference. The arrangement ensures accurate touch detection while minimizing false signals, making it suitable for applications in touchscreens, touchpads, and other interactive devices. The system may also incorporate shielding or grounding techniques to enhance performance in noisy environments. The touch sensor operates by scanning the drive lines and sense lines to detect capacitance changes, which are then processed to generate touch coordinates. This design enables precise and reliable touch input detection in various electronic devices.
6. The touch sensor claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first conductive element is a sense line, and the second and third conductive elements are drive lines.
A touch sensor system detects touch inputs by using conductive elements arranged in a grid. The system includes a first conductive element functioning as a sense line and two additional conductive elements functioning as drive lines. The drive lines are positioned relative to the sense line to create capacitive coupling when a conductive object, such as a finger, interacts with the sensor. The sensor operates by applying drive signals to the drive lines while monitoring changes in capacitance on the sense line, which indicates touch location. The arrangement allows for accurate touch detection by distinguishing between different touch points based on signal variations. The system may be integrated into touch-sensitive displays or interfaces, improving responsiveness and accuracy in detecting user inputs. The design ensures efficient signal processing by minimizing interference and optimizing the spatial resolution of touch detection. This configuration enhances the performance of touch-sensitive devices by providing reliable and precise touch input detection.
7. A touch sensor comprising: substrate having a sensing area and a first, second and third conductive element; the first and the second conductive elements disposed on the substrate such that at least a portion of each of the first and the second conductive elements are within the sensing area, and being arranged such that for any two given points on the first conductive element within the sensing area, the nearest point to each on the second conductive element within the sensing area is a different distance away; the third conductive element being disposed on the substrate such that at least a portion of the third conductive element is within the sensing area, and being arranged such that the third conductive element crosses the second conductive element, and is conductively isolated therefrom; the first and the third conductive elements being arranged such that for any two given points on the first conductive element within the sensing area, the nearest point to each on the third conductive element within the sensing area is a different distance away; further comprising a fourth conductive element disposed on the substrate at least partially within the sensing area, the fourth conductive element being conductively isolated from each of the first, second and third conductive elements, and arranged such that: for any two given points on the fourth conductive element within the sensing area, the nearest point to each on the second conductive element within the sensing area is a different distance away, and for any two given points on the fourth conductive element within the sensing area, the nearest point to each on the third conductive element within the sensing area is a different distance away.
The invention relates to a touch sensor designed for precise touch detection. The sensor includes a substrate with a sensing area and multiple conductive elements arranged to enable accurate touch localization. The first and second conductive elements are positioned such that any two points on the first element have different nearest-neighbor distances to points on the second element, ensuring unique spatial relationships. The third conductive element crosses the second element while remaining electrically isolated and is arranged so that any two points on the first element also have varying nearest-neighbor distances to the third element. Additionally, a fourth conductive element is included, isolated from the first three, and positioned such that any two points on the fourth element have distinct nearest-neighbor distances to both the second and third elements. This configuration allows the sensor to distinguish touch positions with high resolution by leveraging the unique spatial relationships between the conductive elements. The design ensures that each touch point generates a unique signal pattern, improving accuracy in multi-touch applications.
8. A touch sensor comprising: substrate having a sensing area and a first, second and third conductive element; the first and the second conductive elements disposed on the substrate such that at least a portion of each of the first and the second conductive elements are within the sensing area, and being arranged such that for any two given points on the first conductive element within the sensing area, the nearest point to each on the second conductive element within the sensing area is a different distance away; the third conductive element being disposed on the substrate such that at least a portion of the third conductive element is within the sensing area, and being arranged such that the third conductive element crosses the second conductive element, and is conductively isolated therefrom; the first and the third conductive elements being arranged such that for any two given points on the first conductive element within the sensing area, the nearest point to each on the third conductive element within the sensing area is a different distance away; further comprising drive circuitry operatively connected to the second and third conductive elements; sense circuitry operatively connected to the first and fourth conductive elements; signal processor configured to: determine a first touch delta between the first and second conductive elements; determine a second touch delta between the first and third conductive elements; determine a third touch delta between the second and fourth conductive elements; determine a fourth touch delta between the third and fourth conductive elements; and determine a location of a touch on the touch sensor based upon the first, second, third and fourth touch deltas.
Touch sensors are used to detect and locate touch inputs on a surface. A challenge in touch sensor design is accurately determining the precise location of a touch, especially with multiple conductive elements, while maintaining simplicity and reliability. This invention addresses this by providing a touch sensor with a unique arrangement of conductive elements and signal processing to enhance touch location accuracy. The touch sensor includes a substrate with a sensing area and multiple conductive elements. The first and second conductive elements are positioned such that any two points on the first element have different nearest points on the second element, ensuring unique spatial relationships. The third conductive element crosses the second element but remains electrically isolated. The first and third elements are arranged similarly to the first and second, ensuring unique spatial relationships. A fourth conductive element is also present, connected to sense circuitry. Drive circuitry is connected to the second and third conductive elements, while sense circuitry is connected to the first and fourth elements. A signal processor calculates four touch deltas: between the first and second elements, the first and third elements, the second and fourth elements, and the third and fourth elements. By analyzing these deltas, the processor determines the precise location of a touch on the sensor. This multi-delta approach improves accuracy by leveraging multiple spatial relationships between conductive elements.
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August 20, 2019
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